Multisectional interlocked snow mold



Oct. 23, 1962 J. A. ROSS] 3,059,279

MULTISECTIONAL INTERLOCKED SNOW MOLD Filed April 20, 1961 INVEN TOR. JOSEPH ,4. #0367 BY A24 4; 6,4 612%:

ATTOR/VE United States Patent Ofifiee 3,059,279 MULTISECTIONAL INTERLOCKED SNOW MOLD Joseph A. Rossi, 162-20 95th St., Howard Beach, NY. Filed Apr. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 104,336 2 Claims. (Cl. 1834) This invention relates to a multisectional interlocked snow mold. More particularly, my invention pertains to a multi-bipartite-sectional interlocked snow mold adapted to make a large figure out of packed snow, such for instance, as'a snow man.

It is an object of my invention to provide a snow mold of the character described with the aidof which a child can rapidly and easily make a large figure out of packed snow.

Typically, a snow man is a tall figure approximating, and often being higher than, the height of an adult human. A single mold large enough to contain and form such a figure would be too bulky, difficult and cumbersome for a child to handle conveniently. However, pursuant to my invention, I have provided a sectional mold the several sections of which are interlockable in such a fashion that a child can readily assemble and dissassemble the same and thereby never has to manipulate more than one comparatively small and lightweight section at a time. It is another object of my invention to provide a snow mold of the character described in which the several sections are interlocked in an extremely simple manner such that uncoupling of the same is performed automatically, simply by opening individual bipartite sections in a proper order.

It is another object of my invention to provide a snow mold of the character described which is inexpensive to make, is attractive in appearance and is capable of molding a conventional snow man.

Other objects of my invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the mold hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the fully assembled multisectional interlocked snow mold;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional views taken substantially along the lines 22 and 33, respectively, of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the quick attachable-detachable clasp for interengaging the two parts of a single section of the mold.

In general, I carry out the several objects of my invention by making the snow mold of several sections and by subdividing each section into a pair of mating interengageable halves (parts), the individual sections being so mutually formed that they can be quickly, easily and readily coupled (interlocked) with or uncoupled (unlocked) from one another. A typical snow man is formed of three segments, to wit, a base segment which constitutes the hips, legs, feet, etc. of the snow man, an intermediate segment which constitutes the chest, stomach, etc. of the snow man and a top segment which constitutes the head of the snow man. It is traditional for each of these segments to be of approximately spherical shape. Indeed when a snow man is made conventionally without the aid of a mold it usually is composed of three large different sized balls of snow vertically stacked upon one another, the bottom ball being of the greatest diameter, the top ball being of the least diameter and the intermediate ball being of median diameter. In accordance with my inven- 3,959,279 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 tion each of the individual sections of my novel mold is arranged to make a different one of these three segments. That is to say there is one mold section for the base segment of the snow man, a second section for the intermediate segment of the snow man and a third mold section for the top segment of the snow man and these three sections are so mutually formed that they can be partially telescoped into one another whereby to create the desired interlocked relationship. The telescoping action is limited by having at least each of the sections except the top section so configured as to taper upwardly from a zone of maximum girth and by further having at least each of the sections except the bottom section so configured as to taper downwardly from said zone of maximum girth.

Referring now in detail to the drawings the reference numeral 10 denotes a multisectional interlocked snow mold for making a conventional snow man. The said mold includes a bottom section 12, an intermediate section 14 and a top section 16. The specific configuration of each of these three sections is governed by the particular outline desired to be obtained for the molded snow man; however as is usual, at least the bottom and intermediate mold sections will taper, i.e. converge, upwardly, from horizontal zones of maximum girth and at least the intermediate and top mold sections will taper, i.e. converge downwardly from such zones. Actually, in the preferred form of my invention which is shown herein, each of the three mold sections is of truncated spheroidal shape. That is to say, each of the three mold sections is in substantially the shape of a sphere with a portion of its top above its horizontal great circle and a portion of its bottom above said circle cut off by horizontal parallel planes. It may be mentioned at this point that, if desired, the bottom mold section 12 may have the lower portion thereof shaped to cylindrical outline rather than being arcuately downwardly converging as indicated.

Due to the upper and lower truncations each mold section has a large central top opening and a large central bottom opening in registry with the top opening. More specifically the bottom section 12 has a large circular central top opening 18 and a large circular central bottom opening 20. The intermediate section 14 has a large circular central bottom opening 22 and a large circular central top opening 24. The top section 16 has a large circular central bottom opening 26 and a large circular central top opening 28.

In order to obtain the quick interlockable and disengageable telescopic relationship between the three mold sections 1 provide one end (top or bottom) of each section except one endmost section, with a protruding annular flange around its related opening which flange is shaped and dimensioned to be telescopically received (slidably fit) into the adjacent end opening of the contiguous part. Thus, as shown herein, I provide the top section 16 with a downwardly depending annular stub flange 30 and the intermediate section 14 with a downwardly depending annular stub flange 32. The flange 30 is coaxial with and defines the bottom opening 26 of the top section 16 and the flange 32 is coaxial with and defines the bottom opening 22 of the intermediate section 14. The flange 30 is of such size that its external diameter is slightly smaller than, e.g. about A of an inch smaller than, the diameter of the top opening 24 in the intermediate section 14 so that said flange can be nicely slidably received in said opening 24 and will not tend to appreciably shift laterally therein. The flange 32 and the opening 18 have the same interrelationship.

Each of the three mold sections 12, 14 and 16 is formed from an inexpensive light-weight self-formmaintaining and, optionally, flexible and resilient, sheet material. For example, said mold sections can be made of sheet metal, such for instance as light gauge galvanized sheet iron. Nevertheless, I prefer not to employ sheet metal since aside from its generally desirable qualities of ruggedness and strength it has certain disadvantages. For instance, when it is used the sections must be carefully formed to eliminate sharp corners, edges and burrs which might injure children, and even galvanized sheet iron is prone to rust and therefore must be specially treated to prevent corrosion. Therefore in the preferred form of my invention the bottom section, intermediate section and top mold section are made from a synthetic plastic material, as by molding or by forming from sheets. This has all the advantages of sheet metal and none of its disadvantages. Any conventional type of synthetic plastic material can be used, as for example, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, vinyl polymers, vinyl copolymers and acrylic resins. However, I prefer to use a material which has a better than average, i.e. high, impact resistance and to this end desirably employ a polystyrene modified with butadiene, e.g. including about 20% by weight of butadiene. Such material does not become unduly brittle in cold weather and .even in thin sections is not frangible. Moreover, said material has a surface with an excellent (high) release characteristic. That is to say, its surface is somewhat slick and does not tend to stick to snow, even packed snow, so that it is not necessary to coat the surface of the mold sections with a release agent, e. g. a silicone, in order to encourage the parting of the mold sections from a packed snow figure formed within the same when the mold is to be disengaged from the figure.

Each of the mold sections 12, 14 and 16 is subdivided along vertical joints or seams into plural parts, desirably into halves, and since the same arrangement preferably is used for all of the sections the subdivision of only one section will be described in detail, to wit, that of the intermediate section 14-.

Said intermediate section is formed of two truncated hollow hemispheroidal halves 36, 38. The two halves, except for their vertical edge interengaging means soon to be described, are mirror images of one another, that is to say, are of identical but reverse shape so that when arranged with their vertical edges in matching juxtaposition and with their concave surfaces facing they will define a hollow truncated spheroidal configuration.

The two halves 36, 38 are provided with suitable vertical edge-to-edge interengaging means which are of any rapidly attachable and detachable type. The specific construction of such vertical edge interengaging means may be varied without departing from the scope of my invention. However by way of example, I have illustrated two desirable kinds of such interengaging means, to wit, one of the fixed hook type and one of the manually manipulatable catch type. It may be mentioned that although both vertical edge interengaging means preferably are not of the fixed hook type, both can be of the manually manipulatable catch type. Nevertheless, since the quick attachable and detachable fixed hook type vertical edge interengaging means is simpler to use and less expensive to provide I prefer to use the fixed hook type of interengaging means for one set of matched vertical edges and the manually manipulatable catch type interengaging means for the other set of matched vertical edges.

Specifically, the quick attachable and detachable hook type interengaging means constitutes a vertically spaced vertical series of openings 40 adjacent one vertical edge of one of the halves, e.g. the half 38. Cooperating with these openings are a vertically spaced vertical series of horizontally extending fixed hooks 42 along the matching vertical edge of the other half 36. Each of these fixed hooks projects horizontally away from the vertical edge of its related half 36. The base of each hook is offset radially outwardly, as at 44, and the tip 46 of each hook includes an inner retroverted finger 48. The vertical spacing and location of the hooks and of the openings are the same so that when the two halves are in vertical registry with their vertical edges matched each hook will be registered with a different related opening.

To couple the halves the hooks are inserted through the openings while the two halves are vertically registered but have their front vertical edges slightly spaced apart. Thereafter the two halves are swung together with the hooks and openings acting as hinges for such limited rotation. In the closed position of the two halves the hooks and openings have the mutual arrangement shown in FIG. 3. The offset 44 enables the shank of the hook to clear and lie over the outer surface of the half 38 with the related opening 40 therein. The tip 48 of the hook in closed position of the halves is located near the inner surface of the half 38 so that the engagement between the two halves is firm and said halves will not be accidentally uncoupled at said hinges.

The quick attachable and detachable manually rnanipulatable catch type vertical edge interengaging means are located on the other matching set of vertical edges of the halves 36, 38. That is to say, if it be considered that the fixed hook type vertical edge interengaging means is located on the back set of vertical edges the manually manipulatable catch type vertical edge interengaging means are located on the matching front set of vertical edges. As indicated heretofore any suitable type of quick attachable and detachable manually manipulatable catch type vertical edge interengaging means can be used. For instance, I may employ a swinging C-clamp type of edge interengaging means such as illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 2,831,231, or I may employ a resilient clamp type of edge interengaging means such as illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 2,939,299, or I may employ a pin and pierced post type of edge interengaging means such as illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 559,788, or I may employ a pivotal hook and eye type of edge interengaging means such as is utilized for screen and storm sash catches. All of these will provide the manually controlled quick release and engagement that should be present.

In the drawings, I have illustrated an even simpler and easier to handle manually manipulatable catch type vertical edge interengaging means, to wit, a snap catch. Said snap catch comprises a vertically spaced vertical series of halves 50 of snap fasteners, e.g. female halves of snap fasteners, adjacent one vertical edge of one of the halves, eg. the half 36. The related male halves 52 of said snap fasteners are supported by a vertically spaced vertical series set of tongues 54 extending integrally away from the vertical edge of the other half 33. Said tongues are radially outwardly offset to overlie the corresponding outer part of the marginal vertical edge portion of the half 36. It will be recalled that the plastic material of which the mold sections are formed is somewhat resiliently yieldable thereby enabling the tongues 54 to be pressed inwardly whereby to couple the matching halves of the snap fasteners. The snap fasteners are disengaged by prying the tongues 44 outwardly.

Obviously the three mold sections 12, 14 and 16 are of different sizes and, accordingly, I may employ for the different sections different numbers of vertical edge interengaging means. For insatnce, in the base section 12 I have, as shown, utilized three interengaging fixed hooks and three interengaging pairs of snap fasteners. In the intermediate section I have used but two fixed hooks and two snap fasteners and in the top section simply one hinge and one snap fastener.

Because the multisectional interlocked snow mold embodying my invention is so light and convenient and easy to manipulate it can be used by any man, woman or child with the greatest of ease. To employ the same the large bottom section is assembled by first coupling the fixed hook interengaging means of its two halves and then the manually manipula'table catch means. This bottom section is placed on the ground with its base opening 20 lowermost and it is completely filled with snow, the snow being firmly packed, i.e. tamped down, so that it will mainain its coherency and form when the mold subsequently is removed. Said bottom mold section is filled to its very top, i.e. flush with its top opening 18.

Next the intermediate section 14 is assembled and is placed on top of the filled bottom section 12. This operation is quite simple to perform. The squat lower flange 32 merely is inserted into the top opening 18 of the bottom section. Because the flange 32 is so short there is very little opposition to its insertion and indeed, if desired, the bottom part can be incompletely filled so as to facilitate insertion of the flange 32 into the opening 18.

Now the intermediate section 14 is filled with snow to the top and tamped. Thereafter the top section 16 is assembled and has its flange 30 inserted into the opening 24 at the top of the intermediate section. Finally, the top section is filled with snow and tamped. All three sections of the mold now are full of packed snow. Thereupon the sections are removed one at a time starting with the bottom section, following with the intermediate section and finishing with the top section. The individual sections are removed by opening the snap fasteners and uncoupling the fixed hooks. It will be observed that removal of the bottom section not only parts this section from the bottom segment of the completed snow man but releases the flange 32 of the intermediate section. When the intermediate section is removed it releases the flange 32 of the top section.

It thus will be seen that I have provided a snow mold which achieves the several objects of my invention and which is Well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A multisectional interlocked snow mold comprising, a bottom hollow truncated spheroidal section, an intermediate hollow truncated spheroidal section and a top hollow truncated spheroidal section, the intermediate section having a diameter greater than that of the top section and less than that of the bottom section, each section having a top opening and a bottom opening, the top opening of the intermediate section being of substantially the same shape and size as the bottom opening of the top section, the top opening of the bottom section being of substantially the same shape and size as the bottom opening of the intermediate section, each section comprising at least two parts arranged to be joined along matching vertical edges to form a complete section, quick attachable and detachable means connecting said parts along said vertical edges, the top section having an annular stub flange protruding from around the bottom opening therein and received in the top opening in the inter-mediate section and the intermediate section having an annular stub flange protruding from around the bottom opening therein and received in the top opening in the bottom section whereby to interlock the three sections, all of said sections converging toward the telescopic joints formed by the flanges and openings.

2. A snow mold as set forth in claim 1 wherein the three sections are formed of thin-walled high impact polystyrene and wherein the quick attachable and detachable means comprises a fixed book type interengaging means and a manually manipulatable catch type interengaging means, said two types of engaging means being associated with different matched sets of vertical edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 714,906 Holbrook Dec. 2, 1902 1,122,822 Venabl'e Dec. 29, 1914 1,227,824 Pelton May 29, 1917 1,627,754 Townsend May 10, 1927 2,152,311 Jacobson Mar. 28, 1939 2,435,610 Schneider Feb. 10, 1948 2,539,917 McKinley Jan. 30, 1951 2,618,130 Leichtman et al Nov. 18, 1952 2,691,196 Banister Oct. 12, 1954 2,839,788 Dernbiak June 24, 1958 2,914,832 Lee Dec. 1, 1959 2,981,997 Painter May 2, 1961 

